SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 18)*
Name of Issuer: Baldor Electric Company
Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock
CUSIP Number: 057741-10-0
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement.
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: 1) has a previous
statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five
percent of the class of securities described in Item 1; and 2) has
filed no amendment subsequent thereto reporting beneficial owner-
ship of five percent or less of such class.) (See Rule 13d-7.)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the
subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter the disclosures provided
in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall
not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all
other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
(Continued on following page(s))
Page 1 of 5 Pages
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 057741-10-0
SCHEDULE 13G
1. Name of Reporting Person: Fred C. Ballman
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person: ###-##-####
2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group*:
(a)
(b)
3. SEC Use Only:
4. Citizenship of Place of Organization: U.S. Citizen
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. Sole Voting Power: 6,480
6. Shared Voting Power: 2,254,849
7. Sole Dispositive Power: 6,480
8. Shared Dispositive Power: 2,254,849
9. Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person:
2,261,329
10. Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain
shares*: ___
11. Percent of class represented by amount in row (9): 8.6%
12. Type of reporting person*: In
* SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
Page 2 of 5 Pages
<PAGE>
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: Baldor Electric Company
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
5711 R.S. Boreham, Jr. Street, Fort Smith, AR 72908
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing: Fred C. Ballman
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office, if none, Residence:
P.O. Box 6638, Fort Smith, AR 72906
Item 2(c) Citizenship: United States
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number: 057741-10-0
Item 3 If this Statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or
13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) ___ Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the
Act.
(b) ___ Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act.
(c) ___ Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of
the Act.
(d) ___ Investment Company registered under section 8 of
the Investment Company Act.
(e) ___ Investment advisor registered under section 203 of
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
(f) ___ Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is sub-
ject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 or Endowment Fund; sec.
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
(g) ___ Parent Holding Company, in accordance with 240.13d-
1 (b)(ii)(G) (Note: See Item 7).
(h) ___ Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H).
Page 3 of 5 Pages
<PAGE>
Item 4 Ownership:
If the percent of the class owned, as of December 31 of the
year covered by the statement or as of the last day of any
month described in Rule 13d-1(b)(2), if applicable, exceeds
five percent, provide the following information as of that
date and identify those shares which there is a right to
acquire.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 2,261,329
(b) Percent of Class: 8.6%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 6,480
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,261,329
(iii) sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of: 6,480
Item 5 Ownership of five percent or less of a class: Not
Applicable
Item 6 Ownership of more that five percent on behalf of another
person: Not Applicable
Item 7 Identification and classification of the subsidiary which
acquired the security being reported on by the Parent
Holding Company: Not Applicable
Item 8 Identification and classification of members of the
group: Not Applicable
Page 4 of 5 Pages
<PAGE>
Item 9 Notice of dissolution of group: Not Applicable
Item 10 Certification: Not Applicable
Signature
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: February 2, 1997
/s/ Fred C. Ballman
- -------------------
Signature
Fred C. Ballman, Director
Name/Title
Page 5 of 5 Pages